You don’t get to pick the time - so live with gusto...
It breaks our hearts to announce the loss of our Tracy Lynn Sheppard on March 26, 2022 at the age of 47. She was born June 30, 1974, in Moose Jaw, SK into a household with seven brothers & sisters; she learned about family early on. Tracy gravitated toward the arts (we all know it’s because she sucked so completely at sports), but like all the Sheppards, Tracy spent her summers in Gimli MB, as a Sea Cadet, learning to sail - another passion in her life. After graduating from high school, Tracy became a teacher, the perfect trade for someone who loves children. However, the travel-bug, which was to become a permanent part of Tracy’s life, took her away to Australia for a year and to Korea to teach. After returning to Canada, she joined her brother in Calgary in a start-up real estate business.
Bored in a new city, Tracy was invited to a housewarming party where she met the love of her life. From that night, and for the next 17 years, Tracy and Brian were inseparable. The two moved to Hinton, where they worked together, lived together, loved together, raised kids and grandchildren together, travelled together and volunteered in the community together. After running The Wild Orchid for a little
more than 10 years, Tracy moved on to work at the Pine Valley Lodge and like everything else she ever did, she did it with passion: man, did the residents have an advocate in Tracy!
Tracy was committed, determined and fierce in everything she did. In love, family, travel, work, exercise, friendship, and her work in the
community, she lived her life with gusto. Tracy was an entrepreneur, executive, committed community member and teacher - and in all areas, she touched lives with her infectious positive energy.
We will all miss you like crazy Trace: your husband and partner in-everything, Brian LaBerge; fur-child Doug; children Kaylee (Michael), Renee & Mitch. Your grandchildren who truly adored you because you took the time to show them how special they were to you: Brooklynn, Aylah, Piper, Willow, Rome and Birdie. Your father Jim (deceased) and mother Valerie; siblings Monte Sheppard (Mona); Ron “Skum” Sheppard (Sue Klotz); Scott “Pube” Sheppard (Jacquie Moore); Tammy “Julie” Sheppard (Marc Rochette); Lance “Nip” Sheppard (Charlotte Saunders); Cindy Hardie (Alistair); Jody Mann; and loads of nieces and nephews who cherished their Auntie Tracy. A lifetime of friends and the united ‘Shepberge’ family will miss you forever.
My darling Tracy, when we love deeply, we mourn deeply. Losing you has taken my breath away. To honour your zest for life, we will go on with love, we will laugh again, dance again, and we will raise a glass again (well, we’ve had a few along the way).
All of us who loved her dearly invite you to a celebration of Tracy’s life:
Hinton Community Centre
965 Switzer Drive, Hinton, AB
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2022
Time: 1:00 pm
Stick around after the celebration for a sandwich and a coffee. In choosing your wardrobe, Tracy’s favourite colour is orange. And in lieu of flowers, please donate to the SPCA, because Tracy never met a stray animal she didn’t like.
